❓👍🎭🕐🆓

How to Say ‘What do you like to do in your free time?’ in German

Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit?

vas MAKHST doo gehrn in DY-ner FRY-tsite

[vas MAKHST doo gehrn in DY-ner FRY-tsite]

🇩🇪 In Germany: A classic, safe first-date question. Germans often take hobbies seriously, so expect a detailed answer about clubs or weekend trips.

Phrase Breakdown

Was machst du gern

vas MAKHST doo gehrn

What do you like to do

This asks about someone's hobbies. 'gern' makes it about what the person enjoys.

Example

Was machst du gern am Wochenende?

What do you like to do on the weekend?

Words in this phrase

Was

[vas]

what

Question word asking about a thing.

Example

Was machst du?

What are you doing?

machst

[MAKHST]

do (you)

Du-form of 'machen', to do or make.

Example

Was machst du heute?

What are you doing today?

[doo]

you

The pronoun 'du' in nominative form.

Example

Du bist schön.

You are beautiful.

gern

[gehrn]

like to (do), enjoy

Used after a verb to say someone likes doing something; 'gern spielen' means to like playing.

Example

Sie malt gern mit Farben.

She likes painting with colors.

in deiner Freizeit?

in DY-ner FRY-tsite

in your free time?

This adds when. Say 'Frei-zeit' like 'FRY-tsite', with the stress on the first part.

Example

Ich lese viel in meiner Freizeit.

I read a lot in my free time.

Words in this phrase

[in]

Expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else.

Example

Das Haus steht in Trümmern.

The house is in ruins.

deiner

[DY-ner]

your

Informal 'your', dative feminine form.

Example

Ich wohne in deiner Nähe.

I live near you.

Freizeit

[FRY-tsite]

free time, leisure

Feminine noun for time off work or school.

Example

In der Freizeit lese ich.

In my free time I read.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Berlin bureaucracy requires real German. This app got me from zero to handling my Anmeldung appointment in three weeks. My coworkers couldn’t believe it.”

Emma L., 27, UX Researcher

“Relocated to Munich with my family. The everyday scenarios — grocery shopping, doctor visits, school meetings — are exactly what we needed to settle in.”

Marcus J., 40, Engineer

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer